Thanks to Rotarian Frank Flowers who gave the following Three minute Talk at our meeting several weeks ago. Apologies to Frank for not using this story at that time.
I recently came across an old Bulletin which reported on a talk that I had given on visiting Rotary Clubs in Darwin, Pambula N.S.W., and a couple of Clubs in Buckinghamshire, UK.
I would like to talk about a couple of Clubs that I have enjoyed visiting in more recent years.
The first is Noosa Daybreak, which I have visited a number of times over the years during our annual sojourn to Noosaville. The Club meets at Noosa Springs Golf Course, 6.45 am for 7 am. If you arrive at 6.45 am, you look around to see that you are in the correct place. By 6.55 am, there is a queue at the desk. You are treated to a lovely buffet breakfast and the meeting is over by 8.15 am. The Club are strong supporters of the Rotary Foundation, with the responsible Board member reporting at each meeting. The breakfast fee is $20, but many members pay $25, With the additional $5 going to Foundation. Many members have 3 or 4 sapphires added to their PHF badges.
A former member speaking about construction of housing shelters in Cambodia, called for volunteers for a tour that had been planned. 8 of the 16 or 17 members present immediately put their name forward, very impressive. They were also planning for an upcoming book sale, with a storage facility filling fast and books on pallets, requiring licenced forklift drivers to move the books around. I recommend a visit to anyone touring the Noosa region.
The second Club I wish to talk about is the Chipping Campden Club in the Cotswolds (England), about 8 miles from where we were staying in the village of Broadway. The meeting was in a classy hotel, 7 pm for 7.30 pm, which made for a late finish. Thank goodness for sat-nav to get back to Broadway. There was one round table, set for 10. I made 11, so one member decided to go home to bake a cake for his daughter’s wedding. Their big fund raising project was a Barn Dance, in a real barn. The farmer, sounded like their Club’s version of Rowan Miller, all could be done. Barn cleared out, power, lighting.
Toilets, all under control. Parking was in a paddock across the road. Animals removed and the ground cleared. The road was to be closed, all fixed by a Councillor member, who also attended to the liquor licence. The unfortunate beast who was to be the subject of the spit roast had been selected. A small Club who punched above their weight.
When the opportunity comes up, I recommend all members can gain by visiting other Clubs.
